2/21/24
Today, our guest speaker was Linda Kozlowski, College of DuPage Fuel Pantry Advisor.
What is the Fuel Pantry? This on-campus food pantry works to solve the problem of food insecurity at COD by providing free food and personal care items to COD students, staff, & faculty members with a self-identified need. Food insecurity is defined as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. The need is real: the Pantry served 2,000 people last year and weekly provides 2,500 lbs. of food, with fresh vegetables being grown on campus.
History: In the fall 2015 the College's Phi Theta Kappa researched the need for a pantry on campus. Their research alone found that 100 out of 750 COD students reported having access to only 1-2 full meals a day, or less than a full meal a day. More recently, per a Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic) survey by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, 39% of college students had experienced food insecurity in the past month.
For additional information, to donate and/or to volunteer, visit the website: https://fuelpantrycollegeofdupage.company.site/
